Activating transcription factor 2 in mesenchymal tumors
Makoto Endo1, Le Su2, Torsten O Nielsen3
1Genetic Pathology Evaluation Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Anatomic Pathology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Human Pathology
|December 3, 2013
Summary
Activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) is frequently expressed in malignant mesenchymal tumors, particularly sarcomas. High nuclear ATF2 expression may indicate specific sarcoma subtypes, aiding in diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) is a transcription factor involved in cell differentiation and survival.
- ATF2 forms complexes that drive oncogenesis in synovial sarcoma and potentially other sarcomas.
- Its role in mesenchymal tumor oncogenesis is suggested, but protein expression in patient samples is largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression and localization of ATF2 in a large cohort of mesenchymal tumors.
- To determine if ATF2 expression patterns can help differentiate between tumor types or malignancy.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis using a specific ATF2 antibody.
- Evaluation of ATF2 expression in 594 malignant and 207 benign mesenchymal tumors across 47 entities.
- Melanoma used as a positive control for nuclear and cytoplasmic staining.
Main Results:
- High nuclear ATF2 expression was predominantly found in translocation-associated and spindle cell sarcomas (e.g., synovial sarcoma, solitary fibrous tumor).
- Cytoplasmic ATF2 expression was less common in malignant mesenchymal tumors compared to nuclear expression.
- Benign mesenchymal tumors generally exhibited significantly lower nuclear and cytoplasmic ATF2 expression.
Conclusions:
- ATF2 is a potential biomarker for certain mesenchymal tumors, especially sarcomas.
- Differential expression patterns of ATF2 may assist in the diagnostic classification of mesenchymal neoplasms.
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